China has admitted defeat in preventing the deployment of the first of two batteries of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in South Korea but vowed to "restrict ROK's military and political fermentation," said an op-ed in the website of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

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More ominously, the same piece argued that China's strategic nuclear missiles must target the THAAD system. It also said that in "future games, China can make ROK uncomfortable and will let the US know that it has made a wrong decision."

For China, however, the most important step it can take to counter THAAD is to increase its military power.

"The deployment of THAAD provides China with the reason to increase the number and quality of strategic nuclear weapons," contends the op-ed.

With its failure to prevent THAAD, China must now be determined to take resolute and effective measures, both economic and military, that minimize the system's threat to China.

China can also impose sanctions of both types against South Korea, and should maintain these sanctions "for a long time, so that the overall level of the exchange between China and ROK will go down." China can also take away the special concessions it granted to South Korea and only maintain the normal relationship between both countries.

There is no reason for China to "go quietly into the night regarding the THAAD deployment," said the op-ed, "because if China does not make ROK pay a heavy price this time, it will only become more fearless when dealing with China."

Neighboring countries might also try to emulate South Korea's success and by that time, "the strategic situation may be out of (China's) control."

Despite its defeat at the hands of South Korea, the story contends "there's absolutely no need for Chinese people to be depressed."

China, however, "will never allow itself to be trampled on."

Tagschina, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, THAAD, South Korea